As the host of a recent community gathering, I had the privilege of bringing together a diverse group of individuals to discuss an initiative close to my heart: the Election Peace Pledge. This pledge, conceived by myself and two colleagues, James Harrison and Norm Davis, aims to promote civil discourse and prevent political violence in the upcoming election.
Our event began with a beautiful rendition of "Let There Be Peace on Earth" by Reverend Fannie Smith, setting a tone of unity and hope. Reverend Smith introduced herself, saying: "I am a current member of the Rainbow Push Coalition, American Clergy Leadership Conference, Women's Federation for World Peace, Power of Women." Her song's message of personal responsibility for peace resonated deeply with our mission.
I was joined by Mike Craven, a Republican candidate for Congress, who shared his perspective on the importance of the pledge. Mike emphasized the need for change, stating: "When you turn, turn your back on God, you become a godless nation. We're going down that road right now. You see it. It's in our streets. It's in our schools. It's everywhere. We need to turn this thing around."
Rev. Mama Joy, another attendee, spoke passionately about the importance of civic engagement and education. She highlighted the lack of civics education in schools, saying: "So many people do not even understand what being a citizen of the United States is. They've taken civics out of the school, Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and really no teaching at all on what a citizen is and the power."
The discussion touched on several key points:
1. The potential for political division and violence following the upcoming election
2. The importance of reintroducing God and moral values into public discourse
3. The need for bipartisan support and action to promote peace
4. The power of small groups to effect change
5. The value of truth-telling in politics, even when it's difficult
As we talked, it became clear that our initiative is more than just a response to a single election. Rev. Mama Joy articulated this beautifully: "The pledge, even though it is being tailored for this particular event, this is something that should be custom made so we can embrace it in our hearts and continue beyond the election."
The event wasn't without its sobering moments. Mike Craven drew parallels to the election of 1860, warning: "No matter how this election goes, you're gonna have some pissed off people. And it's, we're gonna, it's gonna split the country. That's just all there is to it now." He reminded us of the high stakes we face, adding: "The last time this happened, okay, was in 1860. We had two presidents due to split votes. They both were from the state of Kentucky. Abraham Lincoln from North, and Jefferson Davis in the South."
However, the overall tone remained hopeful. Shahram Sedehi suggested: "One thing we can do is, instead of like being against something, [be] for something," proposing we focus on promoting positive values like family and sacrifice.
As we concluded, there was a sense that this gathering was just the beginning. We discussed creating pledge cards for wider distribution. As Priscilla Agari put it: "If there were some kind of cards, people who were inspired could go and share this, uh, with people very easily. Cause it's something that most people would probably relate to."
In these divisive times, our Election Peace Pledge seeks to be a unifying force. It's a reminder that, regardless of our political differences, we can choose peace, respect, and civil discourse. As Mike Craven summed up: "You don't judge, you don't condemn, you don't talk about anybody, you don't mock nobody, you just tell the truth. And that's all you have."
As we move forward, we invite all Americans to join us in this pledge, not just for this election, but for the long-term health of our democracy. In the words of Rev. Mama Joy, let's work on "bringing healing to our home."
